Volume Licensing brief

Licensing the Core Client Access License

(CAL) Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite
This brief applies to all Microsoft Volume Licensing programs.

Table of Contents
Summary .................................................................................................................................................................................................. 1
Whats New in This Brief .................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Details ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
CAL Suites ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Use Rights ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite ............................................................................................................................. 2
Management Server Rights ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Subscription Services Components ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Obtaining Enterprise CAL Suite Licenses and Equivalent Functionality ................................................................... 4
Microsoft Lync Server 2010 (Formerly Microsoft Office Communications Server) Licensing Changes
Effective as of December 1, 2010 ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Frequently Asked Questions ............................................................................................................................................................ 5

Summary
Microsoft offers two Client Access License (CAL) Suites, the Microsoft Core CAL Suite and the Microsoft Enterprise CAL
Suite, which provide access rights to a number of server products and online services. The Enterprise CAL Suite
includes all of the components of the Core CAL Suite. This means customers interested in the components unique to
the Enterprise CAL Suite do not need to license both the Core CAL Suite and the Enterprise CAL Suite. Customers can
acquire the Enterprise CAL Suite upfront or as a step-up from the Core CAL Suite.

Whats New in This Brief

This brief replaces a previous version published in April 2013. It has been updated to reflect current product versions.

Details
CAL Suites
A CAL Suite is a single license that provides use rights equivalent to multiple licenses. Like other CALs, CAL Suites can
be licensed on either a per-user or per-device basis. CAL Suites simplify licensing and tracking by reducing the
number of licenses necessary to access Microsoft servers. CAL Suites may also provide pricing that is more attractive
than licensing the equivalent components individually. However, since a suite is a single licensethe sum of
individual CALsCAL Suites cannot be divided among more than one user or device.

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Licensing the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite

CAL Suites sometimes provide use rights equivalent to licenses that are not CALs. For instance, the Enterprise CAL
Suite provides rights to several management server products and several online services subscriptions. In all cases,
under a CAL Suite, the customers use rights with respect to a particular product or online service are the same as if
that component was licensed separately. The only exception is that both per-user and per-device options are
available in CAL Suites even when both options are not available outside the suite. For instance, Microsoft System
Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2 has per-device use rights as part of Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite,
even though it is offered under a per-operating system environment license individually.

Use Rights
Because CAL Suites contain licenses for products that are released independently, CAL Suites are version-less. CAL
Suites are only offered with Software Assurance coverage, and accordingly give customers the right to use the most
recent version of every product in the suite. If Software Assurance coverage lapses and the customer is vested with
perpetual rights, use rights are determined by the latest version of the products in effect prior to the lapse in
coverage. For example, if a customers Software Assurance coverage for the Core CAL Suite expired on October 1,
2012, the customer has perpetual rights equivalent to the most recent version of the Core CAL Suites components as
of that date. This customer would not have rights to versions of components released after October 1, 2012 or to
products added to the CAL Suite after that date. Note that service components of the suites do expire if Software
Assurance is allowed to lapse.

Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite

The Core CAL Suite is equivalent to the following licenses:

Windows Server CAL,

Microsoft SharePoint Server Standard CAL,

Microsoft Exchange Server Standard CAL,

Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Client Management License,

System Center Endpoint Protection (antivirus client and subscription service)

Microsoft Lync Server Standard CAL

The Enterprise CAL Suite is equivalent to the following licenses:

All of the components of the Core CAL Suite (listed above)

Exchange Server Enterprise CAL with Services*

Exchange Online with Archiving for Exchange Server

SharePoint Server Enterprise CAL

Lync Server Enterprise CAL

Windows Server Active Directory Rights Management Services CAL

System Center Client Management Suite

o

System Center Operations Manager Client Management License

System Center Service Manager Client Management License

System Center Data Protection Manager Client Management License

System Center Orchestrator (formerly Opalis) Client Management License

*Includes Data Loss Prevention and Exchange Online Protection

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Licensing the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite

The figure below is a visual representation of the components offered in the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite
as of April 2013. Required server software licenses are not included in the CAL Suites and must be purchased
separately. Note that many Core CAL components are base CALs, while certain components of Enterprise CAL Suite
are additive CALs, for which base CALs are a prerequisite. For more information about base and additive CALs, refer
to the Microsoft Volume Licensing Brief Base and Additive Client Access Licenses: An Explanation.

Figure 1: Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite components

Management Server Rights

The Core CAL Suite provides rights equivalent to the System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Client
Management License, and Enterprise CAL Suite provides rights equivalent to the System Center 2012 R2 Client
Management Suite. CAL Suites licensed on a per-device basis extend these rights to multiple operating system
environments deployed on the same device, consistent with Server/CAL per-device licensing. Other Management
Server licensing restrictions particular to these products must be observed, such as System Center Configuration
Manager Client Management Licenses limitation to systems running client operating systems. Management Server
Licenses are not required under System Center 2012 R2. See the System Center website for more information about
Client Management Licenses and Server Management Licenses.

Subscription Services Components

The Core CAL and Enterprise CAL Suite include services as components. While customers normally subscribe to online
services separately, the Enterprise CAL Suite services component subscription is integrated with the license cost. As
with a lapse in an online services subscription, with a lapse in Software Assurance coverage on a CAL Suite, rights to
access the online services components will lapse as well.
As of April 1, 2013, a license for the Enterprise CAL Suite with active Software Assurance coverage includes the rights
to Exchange Online Archiving for Exchange Server, Data Loss Prevention, and Exchange Online Protection.

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To begin using these services, contact your Microsoft Partner, who can begin the provisioning process required to
activate each service.

Obtaining Enterprise CAL Suite Licenses and Equivalent Functionality

Customers may choose to license the Enterprise CAL Suite upfront or as a step-up from Core CAL Suite licenses.
Having the Enterprise CAL Suite is like having both the Core CAL Suite and the components that are unique to the
Enterprise CAL Suite. This means the customer licensing the Enterprise CAL Suite is not required to also maintain a
separate Core CAL Suite unlike the customer who is licensing the same products under individual licenses.
All Enterprise CAL Suite components can be licensed independently from the Enterprise CAL Suite. For instance, to
license the Exchange Server Enterprise CAL functionality outside the Enterprise CAL Suite, a customer must obtain
both an Exchange Server Standard CAL (or Core CAL Suite, which provides equivalent rights to Exchange Server
Standard CAL) and the Exchange Server Enterprise CAL. Alternatively, a customer may obtain rights equivalent to the
Exchange Server Standard CAL and the Exchange Server Enterprise CAL by licensing only the Enterprise CAL Suite,
because it also provides rights equivalent to all of the components of the Core CAL Suite.1

Microsoft Lync Server 2010 (Formerly Microsoft Office Communications Server)

Licensing Changes Effective as of December 1, 2010
For Lync Server 2010, formerly named Office Communications Server (OCS), access to Enterprise voice workloads are
licensed through the Lync Server 2010 Plus CAL (Plus CAL). Enterprise voice capabilities previously available through
the OCS Enterprise CAL are now only available through the Lync Server 2010 Plus CAL. Like the Enterprise CAL, the
Plus CAL is an additive CAL, and can only be purchased once the Lync Server 2010 Standard CAL has been acquired. In
other words, both the Lync Server 2010 Enterprise and Plus CALs are additive CALs, however, neither is a prerequisite
for the other.
The Lync Server 2010 Plus CAL is not included with the Enterprise CAL Suite (Enterprise CAL Suite). The price for the
Lync Server 2010 Enterprise CAL has decreased to reflect the transfer of voice functionality to the Plus CAL.
Customers who purchased the OCS Enterprise CAL or Enterprise CAL Suite after June 30, 2009, but before the General
Availability of Lync Server 2010 on December 1, 2010and maintained active Software Assurance (SA)have access
rights equivalent to those rights under the Lync Server 2010 Plus CAL. Customers need to separately renew their SA
for the Lync Server 2010 Plus CAL at their first renewal period after the Lync Server 2010 launch on December 1, 2010,
if they choose to keep the Lync Server 2010 Voice CAL SA benefits.
Customers who purchased an OCS Enterprise CAL or the Enterprise CAL Suite before July 1, 2009, and maintained
active SA have access rights equivalent to those rights under the Lync Server Plus CAL for two releases, Lync Server
2010 and Lync Server 2013. Customers need to separately renew SA for Lync Server Plus CAL at their first renewal
period after the Lync Server 2013 release in order to maintain their SA benefits. This grandfathering policy addresses
concerns about the transition and provides sufficient time for deployment and budgeting.
Customers who do not have or maintain active SA on their OCS Enterprise CAL or the Enterprise CAL Suite will not be
qualified for either grandfathering offer and will be required to purchase the Lync Server Plus CAL to acquire the voice
functionality.
The following figure describes the four licensing options with Lync Server CALs.

For more information on licensing Additive CALs, refer to the Microsoft Volume Licensing Brief Base and Additive Client Access Licenses: An
Explanation.

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Licensing the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite

Figure 2: Lync Server license structure options

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

Is there a difference between the Enterprise CAL Suite and an Enterprise CAL? Is it an important
distinction?
Yes. The Enterprise CAL Suite provides user rights equivalent to a variety of technologies across Microsoft
SharePoint, Unified Communications, System Center, and Forefront. An Enterprise CAL is a distinct license that
describes specific use rights to specific features for SharePoint, Exchange, and Lync Server.
For more information, refer to the Microsoft Volume Licensing Brief Base and Additive Client Access Licenses: An
Explanation.

2.

Can I apply an Enterprise CAL Suite Step-up to a Core CAL Suite with expired Software Assurance
coverage?
No. You must have active Software Assurance to benefit from the ability to migrate lower edition offerings to
higher editions, like migrating from the Core CAL Suite to the Enterprise CAL Suite.

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Licensing the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite

3.

If I can step up from the Core CAL Suite to the Enterprise CAL Suite, can I step up from components of the
suites into one of the CAL Suites?
While there are not programmatic step-up licenses from one or more individual components to the full suite,
Microsoft will provide customized migration solutions. Please ask your Microsoft Volume Licensing representative
for migration options.

4.

Do the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite provide downgrade rights for their equivalent
components?
Yes. Unlike use rights for most product suites, the use rights for the Core CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite
permit customers to downgrade components individually. The downgrade rights for the components of the Core
CAL Suite and Enterprise CAL Suite are the same as those for the individual components. For instance, an
Enterprise CAL Suite license may be used to access an Exchange Server 2010 server.

5.

Does the Enterprise CAL Suite provide the right to Microsoft Server licenses?
The Enterprise CAL Suite provides use rights to the appropriate CALs and Client Management Licenses.
Customers must still purchase the matching server license to each accompanying Enterprise CAL Suite
component.
Note: the Forefront Threat Management Web Protection Subscription functionality found within the Forefront Protection Suite
requires deployment and purchase of the Forefront Threat Management Gateway Server.

6.

Does the Enterprise CAL Suite provide the right to access all Microsoft Server Products?
No. The Enterprise CAL Suite provides rights equivalent to a broad selection of Microsoft server products to
provide information workers access to a variety of functionality, including communication, collaboration,
presence, synchronous communications (IM), enterprise content management, information rights management,
client security, server and Web security, client and server real-time monitoring and updates, conferencing, Webbased forms solutions, and business data connectors. However, the Enterprise CAL Suite does not provide rights
equivalent to other CALs, including CRM and SQL Server.

7.

How does the Enterprise CAL Suite relate to the Enterprise Desktop platform offering?
The Enterprise CAL Suite, the Windows Enterprise operating system, and Microsoft Office Professional Plus
comprise the Enterprise Desktop platform offering.

8.

Can I license the Enterprise CAL Suites components individually?

Yes. All Enterprise CAL Suite components are available for individual purchase.

9.

What server editions do CAL suites provide access to? For instance, does the Enterprise CAL Suite provide
access to Exchange Server Standard Edition or Exchange Server Enterprise Edition?
Like other CALs, the Enterprise CAL Suite and Core CAL Suite licenses work with any accompanying edition of the
server that requires a CAL. Therefore, Enterprise CAL Suite and Core CAL Suite license access to both Exchange
Server Standard Edition and Exchange Server Enterprise Edition.

10. Does the Enterprise CAL Suite include rights to access Microsoft SQL Server?
No. SQL Server CALs must be obtained separately from the Enterprise CAL Suite or Core CAL Suite.
11. My Software Assurance cost for Enterprise CAL Suite looks higher than the normal rate. Has Microsoft
raised the cost of Software Assurance?
No. Online Services subscription fees are reflected in the Enterprise CAL Suites annual cost, which includes both
online services subscription costs and Software Assurance. These costs are part of both the new and renewal
offerings and, as a result, the relationship between the new and renewal price varies from that normally
associated with our License and Software Assurance offerings.

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12. Will voice (VoIP) capability be available in the Enterprise CAL Suite?
The release of Lync Server 2010 (formerly Office Communications Server) requires a Plus CAL to access VoIP
functionality. Some of the voice functionality that was in the Office Communications Server 2007 R2 Enterprise
CAL is in the Lync Server 2010 Plus CAL. Enterprise CAL Suite customers and customers who purchase the
Enterprise CAL Suite between July 1, 2009 and December 1, 2010 receive the Lync Server 2010 Plus CAL with
active Software Assurance. Enterprise CAL Suite customers who purchased before July 1st, 2009 and maintained
active Software Assurance receive upgrade rights to Lync Server 2010 and Lync Server 2013 Plus CALs.
13. What is Lync Server Standard CAL?
Lync Server Standard CAL is the next generation and new branding of Office Communications Server (OCS)
Standard CAL. It enables Instant Messaging (IM), Presence, and PC-to-PC voice/video calling. Find out more by
reviewing the Lync Licensing Guide.
14. What is System Center Endpoint Protection?
System Center Endpoint Protection (formerly Forefront Endpoint Protection Manager), simplifies and improves
endpoint security. It builds on System Center Configuration Manager, allowing customers to use their existing
client management infrastructure to deploy, monitor, and manage endpoint protection. This shared infrastructure
lowers ownership costs while providing improved visibility and control over endpoint management and security.
System Center Endpoint Protection is also a component of the Forefront Protection Suite, which is part of the
Enterprise CAL Suite.
15. Are there any price adjustments for customers who already own the Enterprise CAL Suite, which contains
Core CAL, System Center Endpoint Protection, and Lync Server Standard CAL?
Since Enterprise CAL Suite contains Core CAL, there is no change to the composition or pricing of Enterprise CAL
Suite
16. If I purchased Core CAL Suite prior to August 1, 2011, do subsequent true-ups of Core CAL on the same
enrollment qualify for rights to the new technology added?
Yes, subsequent true-ups of Core CAL Suite will receive the rights to the new technology. For an overview of how
True-ups work, please read: Enterprise Agreement True-up Guide.
17. What is System Center Orchestrator?
System Center Orchestrator (formerly Opalis) is a component of the System Center Client Management Suite.
Orchestrator is an automation platform for orchestrating and integrating IT tools to drive down the cost of
datacenter operations, while improving the reliability of IT processes. It enables IT organizations to automate best
practices, such as those found in Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) and Information Technology
Infrastructure Library (ITIL). This is achieved through workflow processes that coordinate System Center and other
management tools to automate incident response, change and compliance, and service-lifecycle management
processes.

2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT. This information
is provided to help guide your authorized use of products you license; it is not your agreement. Your use of products licensed under your volume
license agreement is governed by the terms and conditions of that agreement. In the case of any conflict between this information and your agreement,
the terms and conditions of your agreement control. Prices for licenses acquired through Microsoft resellers are determined by the reseller.

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